Is seeing a GP just as good as seeing a Dermatologist

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 12 months ago by daniellekha.

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- January 20, 2020 at 10:40 am
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miss_annabella_2508
Participant
I had a melanoma removed 10 years ago and was referred to a dermatologist. Who I was meant to see every 3 months, every 6 months then yearly. I was ignorant after having a mole removed that wasn’t cancerous through the dermatologist I decided to see my GP who found initial melanoma.
If you have had past melanoma removed did you see a dermatologist or GP.
I have recently decided to go back to dermatologist and am going to get 4 moles removed. I am terrified as I am 10 weeks pregnant. And don’t want to have to terminate to receive treatment. How ever if that is the out come will have to do what I have to do. My anxiety is in overdrive. What if the dermatologist has picked up on something that the GP has missed.

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- - January 20, 2020 at 2:51 pm
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  tkoss
  Participant
  I have doubts that my dermatologist picked up a malignant mole even thought that is the express reason I went to him. In fact no GP I have ever been to has ever checked moles.
  
  the answer , for me, is go to a Derm, regularly , and insist they be thorough.
  - January 20, 2020 at 6:11 pm
    
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    Hitchens
    Participant
    
    Stay current with your Derm. My GP open looking at my primary told me he did not think it was much to worry about as there was hair growing out of it.
  - January 20, 2020 at 10:07 pm
    
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    miss_annabella_2508
    Participant
    
    That’ll you for your response. I feel that the dermatologist is more eager to just remove and not take any chances. Where I feel that the GP has been more likely to just leave. I’m so scared. I have a one year old an an 10 weeks pregnant. I do get them checked regularly by the GP. But decided to go back to the dermatologist.
- - January 20, 2020 at 6:23 pm
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  JudiAU
  Participant
  My primary was accurately removed by a PA (physician assistant) at a dermatologist office. I could tell it was bad by her expression. She told me at the time that it was very important to follow up and I was immediately referred to a melanoma oncologist when the labs came back.
- - January 21, 2020 at 12:25 am
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  Brian j
  Participant
  I have a question, was the tissue that was removed analyzed and positive for melanoma?
  - January 21, 2020 at 6:13 am
    
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    miss_annabella_2508
    Participant
    
    Stage 1 superficial melanoma 0.8mm. Removed 10 years ago. A skin graft 1cm around initial incision was taken and they got it all. I am about to go back and get 4 more moles removed. I am terrified.
- - January 21, 2020 at 10:35 am
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  tkoss
  Participant
  regarding pregnancy, I first want to say I have absolutely no information or knowledge on pregancy in any aspect.
  
  I do have some experience with timeliness.
  
  from the first observation of a suspicious mole to actual infusion of opvidio, which starts tomorrow, has been 4 months.
- - January 21, 2020 at 4:46 pm
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  sj
  Participant
  I would say it is very important to have yearly checks with a dermatologist, or even every 6 months depending on how often one is in the sun.
  
  But even then, you need to be on top of it. For example, I had my blue nevus mole biopsied in 2016 and it was fine. They checked it visually in 2017/2018/2019 but in 2019 I pushed for full removal and biopsy. They thought it looked fine, but I said it felt different (had it most of my life), just felt deeper. Even when it was removed for biopsy by the ENT (dermatologist couldn’t do it, was too large and too deep), he said it looked fine to the naked eye but it was cancerous inside, which is what the biopsy revealed. So honestly sometimes you can’t even trust a dermatologist looking at it, and if in doubt or something feels different just get it removed and tested.
  - January 23, 2020 at 9:33 pm
    
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    daniellekha
    Participant
    
    Absolutely agree with sj. My initial melanoma was removed by a dermatologist on my insistence. He said it looked fine and wasn’t malignant but I know my body and it just seemed different than it had in years past. Sure enough, stage 1, invasive malignant melanoma. Now I see specialists at Hopkins every three months who go over me with a fine tooth comb. I’ve had lymph node biopsies and multiple removals and it’s been worth it knowing that they never treat any spot as “just fine” if I say it doesn’t seem right!